We provide legal services to those suffering religious discrimination, regardless of your religious belief or affiliation. We especially seek those willing to advance the law by making a long term commitment to engaging in trials and appeals. This is known as “impact litigation” because it helps to change, and hopefully strengthen the law.

Defending the Free Exercise of Religion

The Church State Council is the regional leader in mobilizing the interfaith community to protect and defend the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion in the legislature and in the courts. The Council has sponsored legislation, known as State Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, in six states, and obtained passage in two, Arizona and New Mexico. The Council has also frequently filed friend-of-the-court briefs in appellate courts.

The Council organized the California Interfaith Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion, and remains actively engaged in efforts to improve legal and constitutional protections for religious freedom.

On the national level, the Council has actively supported national legislation, such as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, and the Workplace Religious Freedom Act.

Individual claims that one’s religious freedom has been violated arise in many contexts. Both individuals and attorneys are invited to consult with the Council regarding such claims.